The use of management by objectives in medical education enrichment programs

Since numerous medical education enrichment programs have been established throughout the United States, their effectiveness must eventually be evaluated. It is difficult to evaluate the goals of these programs. The programs do have goals, yet most program managers do not have a simple tool for transforming these broad statements into measurable performance standards. No program can be properly prepared for evaluation unless a goal clarification process is initiated. The authors maintain that "management by objectives" is an appropriate process for refining a program's goals and enables the enrichment programs to be fairly evaluated.